Born:
June 8,1810; his father was author August Schumann. His mother, Johanna Christiane Schnabel, gave him music lessons when he was young.
Birthplace:
Zwickau, Germany
Died:
July 29, 1856; one of the factors believed to have caused his death was the mercury treatments he underwent when he was in an asylum.
Also Known As:
German composer who served as the voice of other Romantic composers. He was also a music journalist, critic and the editor of Neue Zeitschrift ffor Musik. He was the husband of the pianist and composer Clara Wieck Schumann
Type of Compositions:
Many of his compositions are autobiographical and revolved around the theme of "childhood." He wrote music for the piano, lieders, instrumental music, orchestral music, chamber music and operas, among others.
Influence:
Johann Gottfried Kuntzsch gave him instruction on the piano and organ. Friedrich Wieck, the father of his wife, became Schumann's piano teacher when he was 18 years old. Heinrich Dorn taught him counterpoint.
Notable Works:
Among his well known works are: "Piano Concerto in A minor," "Arabesque in C Major Op. 18," "Child Falling Asleep," "Traumerei," "The Happy Peasant," "Papillons," "Die Davidbundlertanze," "Abegg Variations," "Fantasiestücke," "Liederkreis," "Frauenliebe und Leben" and "Dichterliebe."
Interesting Facts:
Both his parents suffered from mental problems and his sister committed suicide when she was a teenager. Sadly, Schumann developed mental problems later on as well. He began suffering from auditory hallucinations and after throwing himself into the Rhine, he willingly asked to be put in an asylum.